ANN ARBOR, MI - In one of several simultaneous demonstrations across Michigan, hundreds of activists gathered outside the the Ann Arbor Federal Building on Thursday to protest the forced resignation of former U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

The protests were part of a nationwide response to Sessions' ouster by organizers who believe President Donald Trump is attempting to diminish the independence of special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation of Russian meddling in the 2016 election.

"Nobody is Above the Law" rallies took place in major cities across the U.S. on Nov. 8.

"These are really strange times, but we are out here to protest the firing of Jeff Sessions," Ann Arbor protester Jessica Prozinski said. "(Sessions) is a racist and he is anti-immigrants, and yet, here we are. We see the big picture that his temporary replacement, Matthew Whitaker, is a Trump crony."

"(Whitaker) has the power to not just shut down the Mueller investigation outright, but also to do shady, behind the scenes things to impede the investigation," Prozinski said.

The president, according to the Associated Press, deflected questions about Sessions' departure Wednesday. Justice Department spokeswoman Sarah Isgur Flores said Whitaker would be "in charge of all matters under the purview of the Department of Justice," not directly answering whether he would take control of Mueller's investigation.

In Ann Arbor, drivers honked their car horns and pedestrians joined the crowd of hundreds as the group marched downtown and through the University of Michigan campus. Some carried signs reading, "Trump is not above the law," and "It's Mueller time."

Other Michigan "Defend Mueller" protests were held in Detroit, Jackson, Ferndale, Brighton and the Grand Rapids area.